But those are not the only reasons Walton Highway has been likened to the Wild West.

The councillor for the village has sent the tumbleweed flying by claiming the area has become so lawless there are now "no go" areas for the forces of law and order and that it resembles the raucous and unruly American frontier of the 19th century.

Julian Kirk, who also represents the neighbouring villages of Walpole Highway and West Walton, made the comparison in a West Norfolk Council (WNC) meeting discussing a local planning application.

"Members living in the leafy suburbs will have no idea what it is like out there."

Walton and Walpole Highway have several long, straight roads in the villages (Image: Owen Sennitt)

Mr Kirk, who is also a Norfolk county councillor, was speaking out in opposition to a planning application to install a static and mobile caravan on a patch of land on the outskirts of the village.

He claimed the occupants of such sites - which are dotted across the area - are contributing to a rise in 'wild behaviour' in the community.

"There are 'no go areas' for police," he added. "I have seen police chases down my road. Looking out the window is better than watching TV."

Other locals have complained to WNC that people are racing horses and carts along the surrounding roads.

Julian Kirk, a former Conservative councillor who has recently joined Reform, thinks his home is like the wild west (Image: Newsquest)

Mr Kirk urged councillors to visit the area to see the "wild west" for themselves, which they did last week before approving the scheme.

But while the dust has settled on that issue, the metaphorical fists are still flying in the village over Mr Kirk's characterisation of the neighbourhood, which has gone down like an overflowing spittoon among some.

The Walpole Highway village sign (Image: Geograph)

"This area has become known as the wicked wild west, and it is," he told fellow councillors.

Vanessa Norris, 56, who has lived in the area for 11 years on a nearby farm, said: "We've never had any problems, it is very quiet.

"You get rubbish being dumped here and there, but that is it. There are definitely not any no-go areas here."

Vanessa Norris,........

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